Colour Therapy in London - June McLeod

Colour Therapy in London

Colour Therapy

Colour therapy is a complementary therapy used to support health and well-being. Its simplicity allows it to be combined and used with other therapies. Colour therapists base their work on the chakras and 10 colours. There are seven main colours, red, orange, yellow, green, sky blue, indigo, violet, colour therapists add white, pink and magenta to these colours.Colour therapists apply colour/s to the chakras to re-balance the system using silks in particular and correct colours and lights.

Colour therapy dates back to ancient times when the Greeks, Egyptians and Arabs had healing temples with different coloured chambers. Sunlight wouldshine through a coloured crystal flooding the chamber with colour, and individuals would come to be bathed in the appropriate colour for their needs. This can be likened to the wonderful stained glass windows within cathedrals and churches, where the congregation are bathed in the beautiful healing colours as the sun shines through the windows.

Colour therapy is a holistic therapy working through the body's energy centres known as 'chakras' stimulating the body's own healing process in a natural and unobtrusive manner. As a holistic/complementary therapy, colour therapy uses colour to balance us on all levels : emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. In fact, it works on areas of our being without us even realising that it's powerful and transformational qualities are benefitting us.

We have seven main energy centres or 'chakras' , each associated with a different colour.

As well as being connected with the appropriate chakra, the colours also relate to the various organs, systems and parts of the body, and to different characteristics and emotions associated with the chakra.

Colour therapy is one of the most natural therapies for healing in that it works simply with colour, which is in abundance all around us, wherever we look or whatever we do, we cannot miss colour eg in nature, the clothes we wear, the decoration and objects in our interiors - both at home and at work, the food we eat, the music we listen to etc. As we use all our senses when it comes to colour , even though the blind cannot see, they too can respond to colour through touch, as the vibrations of colour pass through the skin - so everyone can benefit from colour.

Such is the power of colour that it can help us to release pent up emotions which left untreated, could develop into physical pain and illness. The secret is to learn how to harness the incredible power of colour as we identify which colour qualities are needed by the body at any one time.

Recommended reading : The best selling colour therapy book 'Colours of the Soul' by June McLeod and for the latest colour psychology see 'Colour Psychology Today' by June McLeod.

THE CHAKRAS

Our human body is the physical, visible aspect of ourselves, each of us also has an energy system that is mostly invisible to the eye.

The energy that sustains our physical bodies is an electro-magnetic field that can be scientifically proven to exist. Semyon and Valentina Kirlian photographed the energy field around humans and objects; capturing on film the electromagnetic field. The energy that sustains the electromagnetic field is provided by the cosmic energy that is everywhere.

The field of energy surrounding the body is known as the aura or subtle body. Within the aura, centres of coloured light are found there are seven major centres or chakras within the aura & other smaller, minor ones.

Chakra is an ancient Sanskrit word meaning 'wheel' or 'disc', it is also a metaphor for the sun and symbolises the eternal cycle of time Kalacakra.

Each chakra corresponds to a different colour of the light spectrum and to each organ and area of the physical body. They also work to supply balance within our emotional, mental and spiritual bodies.

The chakras are like batteries, responsible for charging and nourishing each area of the body; providing it with a regular supply of coloured light and energy.

How are the chakras connected to our well-being?

Our environment greatly influences our 'subtle body', emotional upsets, stress levels, toxins in the atmosphere and in our food and our outlook on life are factors which can affect our auras in positive & negative ways. These internal & external factors also affect the balance of our chakras, an imbalanced chakra can contribute to ill health within the physical body.

The best way to keep our bodies healthy is by paying attention to the balance & cleanliness of our chakras. Ensuring that we have regular contact with daylight is one way of keeping our chakras well balanced as is eating a healthy colourful and varied diet. Regular colour therapy methods used at home to support colour therapy treatments will help to bring chakras back into a state of balance & harmony.

Each chakra corresponds to a particular gland or organ within the physical body. Imbalances to our energy system begin in our aura or 'subtle body'.The initial four layers of the aura are;

The Physical - a thin band very close to the physical body.

The Etheric - one inch above the physical body.

The Emotional - five to ten inches above the body.

The Mental - seven to ten inches above the physical body.

The Transpersonal or Soul Star chakra is located six to ten inches above the crown & the mental body - it is our link to the source of life; when this is blocked a person is likely to become depressed. It corresponds to the colour white.

The Crown chakra is linked to the pineal gland, which links to the brain and all the other chakras within the body. When this chakra becomes blocked; illness can manifest in the physical body and nervous system. It corresponds to the colour violet.

The Brow chakra is linked to the pituitary gland, the leader of the orchestra, which affects the entire hormonal system, it relates to the co-ordination of the functions of all other centres and glands. It affects our physical balance, our thoughts and feelings and attitude to life. It also affects the adrenals which produce adrenalin when under stress. It also has links to the fluids in the body especially the lymphatic system, the mid-brain, cerebral cortex, eyes and ears.It corresponds to the colour indigo.

The Altar Major chakra relates to the hypothalamus gland. This chakra is a relatively 'new' chakra and has only been known to exist for twenty years. This centre is where you pick up psychic impressions and negative energies from others. Someone who is depressed is likely to have an altar major in need of cleansing. It also corresponds to the colour white.

The Throat chakra relates to the thyroid gland which affects the upper part of the lungs and the respiratory system as a whole. It also has links to the kidneys, the trachea and cartoid arteries. This chakra affects communication, lack of and hearing. It corresponds to the colour sky blue/turquoise.

The Thymus or Upper Throat chakra is connected to the thymus gland. This chakra is very active in spiritual people and has a spiritual purpose. It corresponds to the colour turquoise.

The Heart chakra is related to the thymus gland centrally and is linked to emotions, relationships between self and others,it looks after and affects emotional health, being the centre from which we can express joy, hope and love. An inability to express ourselves can cause the heart chakra to close down affecting the heart itself, the lungs & bronchiole tubes. It corresponds to the colour green, pink or magenta.

The Solar Plexus chakra relates to the adrenal glands (top of kidneys) . It is known as the 'body brain' where we relate on a physical level with people. It is the first chakra to be affected by shock and it is where we follow our intuition or 'gut instinct'. It affects our co-ordination both physically and mentally and links to the stomach, liver, gall bladder and digestive system. It corresponds to the colour yellow.

The Sacral chakra is connected to our ovaries, testes and is linked to our hormonal system and energy levels. It affects our sexuality and creativity, along with our personal responsibility and personal ethics. It relates to the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, prostate, genitals, colon, bladder, small intestine. It corresponds to the colour orange.

The Base chakra relates to the ovaries, testes also, it is linked to the reproductive areas, pelvic area, bone, marrow, anus, rectum and bladder. This chakra affects our base survival instincts, our stability; physical as well as emotional, conditional love, letting go of past situations and people. It corresponds to the colour red.

Historically colour has influenced man from ancient times, early civilizations used colour for ceremony, healing, religious purposes and rights of passage. It is believed that this healing art dates back to pre Atlantean times. We know that ancient Greeks, Arabs and Egyptians used coloured temples as treatment centres. Colour therapy has played its part successfully in all cultures.

When we describe someone as being 'off colour', without knowing it we are picking up that they have an energy imbalance which is causing tiredness or a feeling of being unwell. When our colour batteries are low, we feel drained and run down. When we are in balance, our colours are bright and vibrant and we are full of energy and life. We radiate colour when we are positively charged and in balance, and we naturally maintain a feeling of well-being and good health. Colour therapy helps us to re-balance.

Colour surrounds us we live and breathe colour often on a subconcious level. How many of us take colour for granted? We often are so busy in our everyday lives to stop and realise the kaleidoscope of colour that surrounds us. Imagine a world without colour; how would this effect our feelings and emotions, our creative expression and our perception of the world we live in?.

Colour affects us all on a very deep level, we often use colour to describe how we feel. Instinctively we know what a particular colour symbolises to us or how it makes us feel.Think of the phrases such as 'feeling blue', 'in the pink' or 'red with rage'.

Colour therapy works on the principle that we are all in need of light and colour to keep well balanced and in good health. Natural daylight contains all the colours of the spectrum that our energy centres/chakras need in order to stay well physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. It is essential that we spend a minimum of half an hour a day in natural daylight whatever the weather, as we absorb light and the coloured rays through our eyes and skin.

How do we know which colours we are in need of? Colour surrounds us everywhere, some colours literally jump out at us instantly and instinctively we breathe in as we experience that 'must have' feeling. These are the colours that we need to surround ourselves with on that particular day. We can place coloured objects in our working space or decorate our living space with flowers of our cosen colour. We can wear scarves, clothes or pieces of semi precious jewellery in our chosen colour.

Colour therapy can help us achieve wholeness and good health,colour therapy is focused on healing, well-being and health.We can use colour therapy for ourselves in numerous and simple to use ways to help support well-being, and we can use colour therapy methods to help our loved ones and friends. Or we may choose to train as a colour therapist and use our knowledge to help our clients.

Historically colour therapy has influenced man from ancient times. Early civilisations used colour for ceremony, war paint and decoration, religious purposes, rites of passage and colour therapy healing.It is believed colour therapy healing art dates back to pre Atlantean times. We know from transcripts and writings the ancient Egyptians,Asians and Greeks used colour therapy healing in a myriad of ways for healing purposes.

Colour has played its part successfully in all cultures. Today we are seeing a resurgance of interest in the healing power of colour therapy.

Colour therapy is a form of healing for the mind body and spirit, both a philosophy and a science. Being so easy to administer, everyone can use different methods of colour therapy to help themselves and their loved ones once they know how.

When we become ill, stressed or tired we often remark ' Im feeling off colour'.

Instinctively we know our coloured centres/chakras are out of balance and therefore need addressing. With simple colour therapy breathing techniques and drinking colour therapy solarised water we can rebalance, such as staring at a colour that we are drawn to, spend a few minutes just breathing in the colour, it is very easy and simple, look at the colour and imagine breathing it in, colour does the rest. Colour therapy can transform lives.

For solarised water, dont use the old fashioned method of using coloured theatre lighting acetates, use coloured glass containers, fill them up with still mineral water and stand in sunlight for an hour,or mid day light, then drink the colour you are drawn to. Too simple? try it first to see how you feel then reflect. Colour therapy methods and techniques do appear simple yet once carried through they prove their worth. Clour therapy works, is easily administered, everyone can help themselves and their loved ones.

Let us understand and look at where colour comes from it will then be easier to see how colour therapy helps us all.

Colour rays come from natural daylight,we refer to natural light as the energy or coloured rays or full spectrum white light, the many wave bands of light that make up full spectrum light are perceived as the spectral colours in colour therapy.

We receive colour through our eyes and skin, if we go blind the body adapts and receives the colour rays through the skin only. The sensors known as rods are sensitive to low levels of light, while those known as cones require a greater intensity of light. Cones are sensitive to colour they create a much sharper image than rods.

The area in the centre of the eye has the highest percentage of cones and these produce sharp images, whilst the rest of the retina contains mainly rods. The retina, optic nerve and brain forms a whole system called the eye brain.

Imagine that you are looking at a coloured blue beach ball, the 'invisible' full spectrum light shines on the ball. The surface of the blue ball absorbs the full spectrum rays, except those corresponding to blue. The colour blue is then reflected to the human eye and a message is sent to the brain.

HOW TO USE COLOUR

Lights - a more powerful and intense form of healing, either used to bathe the whole body in colour or directed at the appropriate chakra(s). Working with the full colour spectrum range of 10 colours, this treatment shold only be carried out by a qualified colour therapist.

Silks- the laying of professional high quality silks, which come in the full spectrum colour range (10 coloursin total), onto the body provides a gentle, effective and aesthetically pleasing way for the individual to absorb and benefit from the healing qualities of colour.

Solarised water - using pure and still mineral water, fill appropriate coloured glass containers and place in direct sunlight for a minimum of an hour to be energised, adjust accordingly. The solarised water can either be drunk or dabbed directly onto the affected part of the body.

Essential oils - also relate to the body's energy centres (chakras) and we group different essential oils together within the colour bands. Essential oils can be added to massage base oil and gently rubbed into the skin, a few drops of pure essential oil can be added to the bath for a healing and relaxing bath; and essential oils can be used in aromatherapy burners to breathe in or freshen up the atmosphere.

Crystals - beautiful coloured crystals are once again grouped within the spectrum colours used for balancing and healing. They can be used as part of a treatment or on their own; either being placed around the body or placed on the chakra areas; and they can be placed around the home to protect and radiate out healing; and used for absent healing.

Colour breathing - can be used on an ongoing basis to help balance the chakras or to top us a colour quickly eg breathing in a colour to reduce stress or to boost confidence, this can be achieved either by focusing on a colour or imagining the colour. When walking or sitting in the garden let your eyes rest on a colour found in nature and breathe it in on every in breath, do this for ten minutes then relax.

Colour visualisation - imagining colour flowing into the body and around it, can also be used for distant healing, by imagining the colour flowing to and encircling another individual for absent healing to help loved ones in time of need.

Colour affirmations - a simple, effective way to use colour throughout the day is to use affirmations. These will keep the mind focussed on the chosen colour ensuring the body benefits fully.

Sound and music -because colour travels along wavelengths with different speed frequencies, these in turn relate to different musical notes; so music can be used alongside colour treatment to reinforce its qualities eg to relax and calm, to inspire and motivate.

Art and mandalas - two fun and therapeutic ways to work with colour therapy and more indepth with colour psychology as part of the healing process and self development process.

Crafting - to craft, stitch, knit and sew are absorbing and enjoyable ways to work with colour; with the added bonus of having something to display or wear at the end, for on going healing.

Pictures - scenic and colour photographs and pictures; placed around the home and office to allow us to switch off for a moment or two, as we absorb the beneficial qualities of colour needed to reduce our stress levels.

Clothing - the colours we wear also form part of the treatment and/or to link in with our own intuition, for our bodies know what they need The clothes we wear can also help to encourage certain feelings; eg encourage self-confidence and self- esteem.

Food - the food we eat also breaks down into different colours and can form part of the on-going treatment, and to ensure we eat a balanced and nutritious diet. Eat up your greens and eat at least 7 different coloured items daily.

The above is just a brief description of how to use colour via colour therapy or colour psychology, more information can be found in June's books Colours of the Soul and Colour Psychology Today.

HOW TO BENEFIT

Whether we are treating an emotional or physical symptom, being a holistic complementary therapy, colour will work on all levels at the same time, so the individual is likely to feel a number of benefits and reactions, some of which may be quite unexpected, but all will be beneficial.

With so many negative situations happening, all around us, it is very easy to be caught up in this negativity; which in turn leads to an imbalance within our energy systems. When colour is chosen with a purpose in mind, it will naturally work towards regaining the balance needed to maintain our total well-being.

EXPERIENTIAL COLOUR THERAPY TRAINING

June is highly regarded and internationally known for her unique and innovative experiential colour training method she created and taught over many years.

In her colour therapy and colour psychology books she generously shares reams of unique and interesting colour insights and colour information not found elsewhere to ensure success.

In her book Colour Therapy A-Z you will find 4 CPD colour workshops to use coupled with full and clear examples of her training structures, lesson plans, student hand outs and importantly the latest and most up to-date colour therapy treatment method.

June shares with you clear diagrams and instructions on how to give a colour therapy one to one treatment in an easy to follow guide to ensure success, June's method is proven to be the most effective colour treatment for you to give and your client to receive.

You will find the Colours of the Soul CD supplied by CD Baby online, an excellent support resource to your colour therapy work, personal development and colour therapy healing.

June's full list of current book titles and current CD:

CD - Colours of the Soul available from CD Baby Online

Colours of the Soul - Best seller, reprinted many times by popular demand and inprint since 2000, a colour classic.

Colour Psychology Today - latest best seller title.

Colour Therapy A-Z - A colour therapy work-book containing all you may need to hold your own colour therapy courses and workshops with confidence or to support your current teaching. Also contains 4 colour therapy CPD workshops.

Colour Numerology - the karmagraph.

With 160 karmagraph charts to copy and to use over and over again in classes and workshops for your students to complete and colour.

Mandalas - for personal development and business use.

Contains a variety of 160 mandalas to be copied and used over for your students to colour in at your workshops or classes.

Discover Your True Colours

An accurate colour divining method for personal development and guidance. Can be used for self and/or to help others. 23 coloured circles to work with and full colour meanings and instructions.

CD Colours of the Soul CD available online from CD Baby.

Spectral Colours

The spectral colours we know as red, orange, yellow, green, sky blue, indigo and violet. In colour therapy these are the main colours used. Each of these colours has its own wavelength and energy level.It was Newton who scientifically verified the existence of colour within natural daylight. He passed light through a prism which split the natural white ray of light into 7 colours, the spectral colours.

Yet it can be argued the ancients were fully aware, and the first to discover this,as the use of quartz crystals to split the light into the seven colours for healing is well documented.

We see the spectral colours naturally in a rainbow where droplets of water act like a prism by splitting the white ray into the 7 coloured rays of the spectrum.

Newtons studies were purely scientific his work on colour moved the focus away from the esoteric aspects that has previously been explored, researched and documented for many many years by the ancient Arab, Babylonian, Persian, Greek and Egyptian mystery schools.

Light, and in turn colour, are electromagnetic waves that move at different speeds. Red has a slow long wavelength, violet at the other end of the visible spectrum has a shorter and faster wavelength.Infra red and radio waves are present at the red end of the spectrum but are invisible to the eye as are ultra violet and gamma waves at the violet end.

Colour therapy works with the visible spectrum and colour therapy is used for healing of self and others.

History

Red owns the longest wavelength, the lowest frequency and working up the colour scale violet has the shortest wavelength and highest frequency. Practitioners of colour therapy by the therapeutic use of colour can re-balance and re-harmonise the body bringing about well being, upliftment of mood and better health using proven colour therapy methods.

Historically colour has influenced man from ancient times, early civilisations used colour for ceremony, healing, religious purposes and rights of passage. It is believed that colour therapy healing dates back to pre Atlantean times.

We know ancient Arabs, Greeks and Egyptians used colour in many and diverse ways for colour therapy healing, coloured temples were used as treatment centres and coloured crystals and herbs were ground together and taken internally as powders or drinks.

Colour therapy has played its part successfullly in all cultures. In modern times colour therapy takes it's rightful place in the complementary arena, accepted as an effective colour healing method.

Colour therapy is well known and used more widely today than ever.The attraction of colour therapy to many is colour therapy is used by the individual to help themselves to support their well-being and for healing others.

Colour therapy can transform your life.

Colour Therapy Tool Kit

Coloured silks come in a set of 10 colours as a set, see products.

Beware of imitations.

June has held the exclusive distribution rights to the top quality silks for many years, she is handing this over to someone else to handle and to sell the silks in the future.The silks are impressive and top quality for your work, you need the best tools for yourself and your client. There are many lesser quality silks out there, even sets being sold using a picture of the original set, yet in reality they are cheaper silks the picture on the website implying you are buying the best. Do be careful.

The silks used for healing are individually laid on specific and appropriate parts of the body to cover the chakra points as part of a colour therapy treatment. The chakra points are the main focus point in colour therapy silk healing. Do remember, never overlap the silks or you will be creating another colour. The colours are used on the body.

See,the Colour Therapy A-Z book for full instructions and clear diagrams on how to give Junes recommended and new colour therapy treatment.

The colour therapy treatment/massage June created and has taught is explained fully, a proven colour therapy treatment, blissful to give and to receive

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Coloured crystals are sometimes used to lay on and beside the body. Coloured Lights (theatre lights are used, theatre light providers/manufacturers will assist) used with coloured glass inserts from the same supplier, not the acetates/plastic coloured filters, are used to beam colours onto the appropriate chakra points - please note: coloured lights are powerful, therefore only to be used by qualified colour therapists.

Spine charts and dowsing methods, with aromatherapy oils to massage the feet and hands during a colour therapy treatment or as perfume in the room as an added beneficial part of a colour therapy treatment.

Sunlight The Great Healer

Through out history and in many religions one cannot miss the continuous thread running through, light and the sun is of utmost importance to so many over the globe and as far back as records began.

The sun is worshipped and seen by many as the Divine Power.The sun's rays lift our spirits, make us feel healthier and full of energy.Anywhere there is energy there is light, sunlight. Sunlight fights bacteria and acts as a natural sterilizer.

From ancient text we learn sunlight is used as an effective healing method. Throughout history many have promoted the benefits of sunlight for health.

The great sanitorium of Hippocrates on the island of Cos had a large solarium for the use of the sun, he spoke widely of the therapeutic benefits and drying action of sunlight.Herodotus gave extensive instructions for sun bathing for health,to strengthen muscle and nerves.Philostratus confirmed Olympian athletes were required to take sun baths.

The Nobel Prize went to Niels Finsen for being the first person to successfully treat skin TB with ultra violet light. Auguste Rollier was devoted to curing TB with sunlight. Sadly in the late 1930's penicillin, the first antibiotic, was discovered and embraced as a new cure alas sunlight therapy was forgotten, ......till now.

A resurgence of the benefits of sunlight is birthing once more for the benefit of us all. With the decline in the effectiveness of antibiotics we may need to relook at the past and at proven ways of fighting infection and bacteria.

An outbreak of MRSA could only be brought under control by irradiation of the blood by UV light, a substitute for the sun. We need to get outside every day in the fresh air and sunshine.

Today so much is said about the dangers of sunlight while playing down the beneficial aspects The sun's rays are healing. Taken sensibly sunlight is so good for us.

Try to get yourself out on sunny days, as the suns benefits outweigh its dangers if you are sensible.

The best nutrition will not give you nearly enough of vitamin D, yet half an hour to an hour a day in the sunshine will. Intriguingly the healing properties of vitamin D after exposure to the healing suns rays we now know uplifts mood, decreases the risk of diabetes, regulates appetite in most people, so no over eating, aids restful sleep, and some say even cancer and yes including skin cancer.

Be sensible, enjoy the sun and let the warmth and healing properties penetrate the skin and remember, sunscreen blocks out the uvb rays from the sun, when the body is exposed to uvb rays this creates vitamin D in the body.

The most concentrated and beneficial source is from sunshine directly onto the skin. Enjoy the sunshine daily but be sensible, dont roast your skin, burnt skin is not healthy nor beneficial,stay out in the sun for as long as you feel comfortable without burning. Sunshine is the great healer. Colour Therapy and Colour Psychology places much emphasis on the healing attributes of sunshine, a free resource readily available and one of the finest.

You are a Prism

Since ancient times records have confirmed the association of colour to the chakras and energy body, interestingly the 7 colours have stayed uniform.Red through to violet. Think of yourself as a prism, you need sunlight on your skin for good health and to boost your energy centres/chakras. Try to get outside every day for at least an hour to expose your skin to sunlight.

The human body is the visible aspect of self with an energy system that is mostly invisible to the eye. The energy that sustains our physical body is an electro-nagnetic field that has been scientifically proven to exist.

One of the first, Semyon and Valentina Kirlian photographed the energy field around humans and objects, capturing on film the electromagnetic field.

The energy that sustains the electromagnetic field is provided by the cosmic energy that is everywhere. The field of energy surrounding the body is known as the aura or subtle body. Within the aura, centres of coloured light are found, there are 7 major energy centres/chakras within the aura with smaller ones on the shoulders, arms, hands, legs and feet.

Chakra is an ancient Sanskrit word meaning 'wheel' or 'disc',it is also a metaphor for the sun & symbolises the eternal cycles of time 'Kalacakra'.Each chakra corresponds to a different colour of the spectrum and to each organ and area of the physical body. They work to supply the energy to balance the physical,emotional,mental and spiritual bodies.

The chakras are like batteries, boosted/topped up daily by sunlight/natural day light and are responsible for nourishing every area of the body and mind with life sustaining properties and coloured energy for health and well being.

Boost your mood with colour therapy.

SAD

June believes many SAD symptons can be alleviated by daily exposure to natural light and by letting sunshine bathe the skin.

Many greats past and present confirm the benefits of sunshine for human health, Far back Herodotus wrote 'exposure to the sun is necessary to help people overcome failing health'. In all weathers he recommended patients should alow the sun to fall upon them.

COLOUR LIGHT BOX

June uses her SAD light box as a stand to drape the silks across. While she taught the light box would sit at the front of the class glowing colour. She also placed 10 different coloured silks over the backs of 10 chairs for maximum effect, stood the chairs at the front of the class with the back of the chairs facing students showing the silks in their full glory, students bathed their eyes in colour while she spoke and taught her beloved colour sharing colour therapy and colour psychology information to an enthralled audience.

June always used different ways and innovaive techniques and methods when teaching.

June wanted her students to be gently bathed in colour and to experience a colour bath while they learnt about the deeper aspects of colour therapy and colour psychology from her teachings. She believed it reinforced her training.

Today June's former students use the same techniques mimicking her great teaching methods.